After missing out on LeBron James, playmaking is easily the biggest hole left on the Miami Heat's roster heading into the first year of the Giannis Antetokounmpo build. But even with that dire need, it still doesn't justify a Russell Westbrook gamble that could backfire tremendously.
Especially if it is true that the Heat have been advised to "stay away" from Westbrook because he's been labeled as difficult to coach. And according to Heat insider Barry Jackson, that's exactly what's happened.
“An NBA source who has relationships with Erik Spoelstra and other coaches said that a coach that Spoelstra trusts told him that he advised the Heat not to sign Westbrook, asserting that he’s difficult to coach.”
Russell Westbrook may not be a fit for the Heat
At this point in his career, taking an irresponsible gamble on Westbrook, especially if he is indeed going to have a negative impact on the coaching staff and/or the rest of the locker room, is just not worth it.
Even if he would theoretically help the Heat's playmaking issues to a certain extent, the possible headache that he would bring, if this report is accurate, may not be a path Miami is willing to take. Westbrook is a soon-to-be 38-year-old whose best years are clearly behind him. He's just not worth the gamble.
Westbrook has continued to prove that he can be a productive player off the bench at this point in his career, but if he's going to bring added complexities to the locker room that may or may not make life much more difficult for Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, it may not be worth the price of admission for Miami.
However, that will make life even more difficult for the Heat's front office in their attempts to solve their playmaking concerns. Without a clear-cut target still on the open market, they're going to have to get creative. Especially if they elect to pass on veterans like Westbrook.
The Heat need to get creative to add playmaking
What exactly does it mean for the Heat to get creative in adding playmaking? Well, that's a lot easier said than done.
Part of that could have to do with how they fill out the rest of the roster, with another having to do with the offensive scheme that Spo plans to put in place. Because, in fairness, if the Heat are going to keep the framework of their pace-and-space offense from last season as the foundation, the need for a traditional playmaking point guard may be overblown.
But the need for wings who have the ability to create will still be needed. And that's where a potential pursuit of Bradley Beal and/or DeMar DeRozan would make more sense than taking a dangerous gamble on Westbrook.
Ultimately, time will tell how the Heat intends to fill out the rest of their roster, but especially if the recent reporting is accurate, it's probably best that they steer clear of Westbrook at this point. And if Jackson is right, they almost certainly will.
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